Monday

Jul 9, 2018 at 12:01 AMJul 10, 2018 at 2:24 PM

UPDATE, 11 p.m.: The remnants of Beryl are expected to move across the northeastern Caribbean south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico tonight and Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

STORM2018: Check the latest tracking map

Interests in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti are urged to monitor the system's progress.

At 11 p.m., it was about 305 miles southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moving west-northwest near 26 mph, a track that's expected to continue through Monday.

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Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Winds associated with the remnants are expected to drop below gale-force later tonight or Monday morning.

However, environmental conditions are expected to become somewhat conducive for regeneration of a tropical cyclone in a few days when the remnants of Beryl are forecast to move across the Bahamas and the western Atlantic.

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National Weather Service meteorologist Carlos Anselmi told the Associated Press that 1 to 2 inches of rain was expected across Puerto Rico, with double that in isolated areas. Forecasters warned that the U.S. territory could see 15 to 25 mph winds, as well as heavy rains that could cause flooding and mudslides.

Meanwhile, off the U.S. East Coast, Tropical Storm Chris was nearing hurricane status about 195 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.

It's expected to remain almost stationary over the next few days before growing to hurricane force and moving to the northeast.

At 11 p.m., Chris was drifting toward the east-southeast near 2 mph. Swells generated by Chris could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along portions of the coasts of North Carolina and the mid-Atlantic states during the next few days.

UPDATE, 8 p.m.: What's left of Tropical Storm Beryl is bearing down on Dominica in the West Indies with 45-mph winds, according to the latest National Hurricane Center advisory.

The remnants are moving rapidly to the west-northwest at 26 mph. The government of Dominica said earlier that it would shut down its water system, while Puerto Rico's governor warned of likely new power outages, according to an Associated Press report.

People on islands across the region stocked up on food and water and prepared for possible damaging winds, rains and waves, the AP said.

In this geocolor image GOES-16 satellite image taken Sunday, July 8, 2018, at 15:00 UTC, shows Tropical Storm Beryl, center right, moving across the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, and Tropical Storm Chris, top left, off the U.S. East Coast.

NOAA via AP

Meteorologist Marshall Alexander told The Associated Press that officials were worried about those still living with tarps on their roofs after Maria slammed into Dominica as a Category 5 storm last year, killing dozens of people. "We are in a vulnerable state," he said. "The system can still cause a lot of damage regardless of whether it's a tropical storm or a hurricane."

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said in a press conference late Saturday that the island could experience power outages and urged people without sturdy roofs to move in with relatives or a government shelter, the AP reported.

More than 1,500 power customers remain in the dark more than nine months after Maria, and some 60,000 people still have only tarps for roofs.

UPDATE, 2 p.m.: Tropical Storm Beryl is heading toward the Lesser Antilles at a faster pace of about 26 miles per hour.

The storm’s maximum wind speed remains at 45 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.

This evening, "disorganized" Beryl will decrease into a tropical wave, according to the NHC. The storm is expected to bring about 2 to 3 inches of rain on the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico, with about 5 inches of rain possible.

At that point, the storm is expected to head northeast, retaining hurricane status through Wednesday at least. That movement and strength has raised the interest of Canada’s weather bureau, Environment Canada, which released an early advisory today.

"At this time it appears this storm could approach Nova Scotia by Thursday, likely weakening slightly as it does so," the advisory reads. "It has to be noted that there is a good deal of uncertainty at this time in the forecast track and intensity of this system."

The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 mph and is currently 190 miles east-northeast of Barbados.

ORIGINAL STORY: Although Tropical Storm Beryl remained steady with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of 5 a.m. today, tropical storm watches and warnings remain in place for the Lesser Antilles.

Beryl is expected to roll through the islands tonight or Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The 5-day cone for Tropical Storm Beryl shows it heading through the Lesser Antilles late this evening. (NHC/NOAA)

The storm is currently 240 miles east of Barbados, moving west-northwest at 20 mph. Warnings are in place for Dominica and Guadeloupe, while watches are in effect for Barbados, Martinique, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten, according to the NHC.

Forecasters say Beryl is expected to eventually degenerate into a trough of low pressure in the eastern Caribbean Sea. That said, strong gusty winds and rain are expected for areas like Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

As for South Florida, NHC forecasters say the region might get some remnants of the system once it breaks apart, but that won't happen for at least a week.

Meanwhile, a tropical depression which formed late Saturday off the Carolina coast has strengthened into Tropical Storm Chris. As of 5 a.m. today, Chris had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was 150 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C., according to the NHC.

The 5-day cone for Tropical Storm Chris, showing it meandering off the Carolina Coast. (NHC/NOAA)

Chris is expected to meander off the Carolina coast over the next few days, forecasters say. As of Tuesday, Chris should begin pushing toward the Northeast, where it’s expected to weaken as it moves away from the Carolinas.

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